Over 400 people from across the United States and India participated in the 15th convention of the International Hindi Association in Cleveland, Ohio, April 29 to May 1. The Northeast Ohio chapter of the International Hindi Association hosted the event around the theme, ‘Education of Hindi in the next generation.’ Dr Anoop Kapoor, who took over as convener of the convention after the sudden demise of Dr Mahadeo Chand in April, launched the event. Kapoor dedicated the event in memory of Dr Chand, who was pivotal in bringing the event to town. Dr Chand worked tirelessly for the cause of Hindi in the US and was awarded the Hindi Ratn, the IHA’s highest honor. The award was received by his wife Sushila Mohanka, who will be the IHA president for 2012-2013. The highlight of the first day was a musical play, 3000 Years of Hindi Bhasha ki Yatra, staged by the local chapter of the Hindi Association. The gala evening included dances and music by over 80 children and adults, directed by Dr Sneh Raj. The Kavi Sammelan saw poets from various chapters of the IHA reciting their poems including Gulab Khandelwal, IHA president, K.K. Singh ‘Mayank’, Vijay Dixit, and Surendra Nath Tiwari. Though Hindi was declared the rashtra bhasha (one of the national languages) of India, it is still not the raj bhasha (the official language). IHA secretary, Dr Satish Misra, drafted a resolution. “Much work is needed to accomplish this,” said Gulab Khandelwal, the author of over 60 books. The highlight of the second day was the workshops to promote the teaching of Hindi in public schools. Kiran Khaitan led workshops on topics that sought to make learning of Hindi fun for the students. Learning of a language and understanding the culture go hand in hand. It is important to make it a fun process. When kids participate in plays where they get an opportunity to speak in Hindi and later receive awards, it motivates them to learn. The whole process of learning becomes enjoyable. Dr Madhu Jhaveri, Dr Pradeep Dixit, Dr Kamal Musaddi, Dr Veena Dhande, Dr Manjul Kant Dwivedi, Renu Gupta, Shyam Sharma, Subhash Sehgal, and Saroj Agrawal were the main speakers on Hindi Education. The Hasya Kavi Sammelan (humor poetry session) featured Dr Vishnu Saxena, Sarvesh Asthana, Dr Praveen Shukla, and Kamal Musaddi. The auditorium was packed with people who were constantly laughing during the four-hour event. ‘It is admirable to see the children and adults using Hindi fonts on their computers,’ said Keshari Nath Tripathi, a former lawmaker from Uttar Pradesh and the keynote speaker of the event. ‘I have no doubt that the use of Hindi will grow in the world, as India becomes more important in the business world,’ he said. Dr Ranbir Singh from the Indian embassy in his address promised full support towards the cause of promoting Hindi. Established in 1980 in Roslyn, Virginia by the late Hindi scholar Dr Kunwar Chandra Prakash Singh, the International Hindi Association, or Antarashtriya Hindi Samiti, elects its officials for a two year period. The key to the three-day event’s success was unprecedented team work and dedication of each team member.

An important event in the honor of Hindi language is taking place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Washington DC, USA on April 12, 2008. In its continuing service to Hindi language for over quarter of a century, the International Hindi Association (IHA) is organizing its 14th Convention – Hindi Sammelan 2008. The theme of the conference is ‘Hindi in globalization age’ - to highlight the role of Hindi as an international language. Various dimensions, challenges and solutions will be discussed in different sessions drawing attention to importance of Hindi not only for individuals, but also for businesses, media, and the government. The following topics will be discussed in academic sessions: ‘Vishva Manch per Hindi: Disha evam Dasha’, ‘Vyavsaay Jagat mein Hindi’, ‘Pravasi Hindi Sahitya’, ‘America mein Hindi Shikshan’, ‘Internet per Hindi’, ‘Hindi Media - Vishleshan’, 'Hindi ka Shabda Rachnashastra'’ and ‘Ramcharit Manas aur Bhakti Sahitya – Aaj Ke Sandarbh Mein’. Ambassador Ronen Sen will be the chief guest, and the Embassy of India in Washington, DC will be collaborating for the event. Hindi scholars from US, Canada, UK, Spain, Norway, India, and other countries are expected to participate in the conference. Earlier IHA conventions were held in Dallas, Boston, New Jersey, Cleveland, Syracuse, Houston, Maryland, St. Louis, Washington DC, Nashville, and Virginia.

Simultaneously, the International Hindi Association is organizing its staple annual-Kavi-Sammelan. The 15-city marathon Kavi-Sammelan tour of the United States and Canada, consisting of Dallas, Houston, Cincinnati, Oklahoma City, Nashville, Raleigh, Washington DC, New Jersey, Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Boston, New York, and Toronto, will run from March 27 to April 27, 2008 and will feature famous Indian poets Hasya-Vyang-Kavi Dr. Suresh Awasthi and Dr. Sunil Jogi, and Geetkar Mr. Gajender Solanki. Dr. Suresh Awasthi of Kanpur is a leading satirist in India who has entertained and awakened the conscience of millions of people with his humor containing a deep penetrating satire. Eleven books to his credit, Dr. Awasthi is a maestro of haasya-vyang. He is also a Hindi professor and a journalist. This is his first trip to the US. Dr. Sunil Jogi of Delhi is a young and talented Haasya Kavi who has achieved in few years what others dream of achieving in decades. A film songwriter, writer of 50 books, Dr. Jogi is a recognized star in India. This is also his first trip to the US as well. Mr. Gajender Solanki also of Delhi is a gifted artist, a former advisory member of the Indian Film Censor Board, and an Oj Kavi. His inspirational and patriotic poems glorify the nation, its soil and culture. Mr. Solanki’s forceful voice with an equally effective message leaves the audience spellbound willing to listen to him more. This is his third trip to the US.

To mark the occasion, IHA is publishing a beautiful souvenir commemorating the 15-city Kavi-Sammelan tour and the Convention. Also, a special collection of poetry recitals in audio CDs is being released. The International Hindi Association has been organizing these literary Symposiums and Kavi Sammelans in America almost every year, sometimes twice a year, for over quarter of a century now. IHA takes pride in offering emerging poets an international stage alongside established poets like Padmshri (late) Kaka Hathrasi, Hon. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Padmbhushan Neeraj, (late) Dr. Brijendra Awasthi, Dr Som Thakur, Hon. Uday Pratap Singh, Dr Ashok Chakradhar, Sh. Hullad Muradabadi, and Sh. Surendra Sharma in the past.

Founded in 1980 in the United States of America by the eminent Hindi scholar late Dr Kunwar Chandra Prakash Singh, the International Hindi Association is one of the most vibrant Hindi institutions in the world. It is a premier institution of Indian culture and studies in the United States. Its programs and activities focus on fostering the cultural heritage of India through promotion and propagation of Hindi and its literature among Indians abroad to ensure that future generations are not only able to speak Hindi with pride but can also learn and enjoy the reflections of Indian culture abundant in Hindi prose and poetry written through generations. The activities such as Hindi classes, youth camps, kavi sammelans, literary symposiums and publications promote and inculcate such human values inherent in the Indian culture. IHA publishes a widely acclaimed quarterly magazine Vishwa and an electronic magazine eVishwa, and produces a newly launched weekly radio magazine Kavitanjali broadcasted live from Dallas and simultaneously streamed on www.radiosalaamnamaste.com worldwide every Sunday evening. It also facilitates Hindi teaching at various levels around the United States. This non-religious, non-political and non-profit lingo-cultural organization is run entirely by volunteers with the support and patronage from its growing membership worldwide, and is managed by a constitutionally elected Board of Directors working through its local chapters spread throughout the United States. Further information can be obtained by visiting www.hindi.org, or by writing to info@hindi.org.

Mrs. Kishori Barman of Connecticut, USA was recently written up on the front page of a local newspaper about the free Hindi school she runs for the last 25 years. This is the second newspaper article that has been written about her recently, with the first one appearing in the Danbury News Times a few weeks earlier. Attached to this e-mail is a PDF file of the article.

Mrs. Barman is a co-chair of the International Hindi Association's Education Committee on Hindi curriculum as mentioned in the article too. Our sincere appreciation and thanks for her dedicated 25 years of selfless service. It is people like her and Mrs. Kiran Khaitan of India Sunday School, Akron, Ohio, also of similar dedication and long service that makes this world a better place for all of us.

Alok Misra, President

After the immense success of last year’s Neeraj tour, the International Hindi Association (IHA) has invited another legendary Hindi poet Dr. Som Thakur along with satirist Abhinav Shukla and the Hindi Gazal maestro Uday Pratap Singh in a Kavi Sammelan (poetry recital) tour on its Silver Jubilee celebrations. Som Thakur and Uday Pratap Singh will be felicitated for their life long contribution to the Hindi poetry in a Kavi Sammelan Shrankhla. A dozen city tour, consisting of New York, New Jersey, Washington DC, Raleigh, Boston, Detroit, Chicago, Dayton, Cleveland, Nashville, Dallas and Houston will run from September 24 to October 23, 2005.

In the same league as Neeraj, Dr. Som Thakur of Agra, UP, is one of the foremost Geetakaar in India today, who has been enthralling the audience all over the world for 40+ years. Eminent Hindi lyricist, film songwriter, writer of over dozen books and recipient of many prestigious national awards, Som Thakur is known for his melodious voice and songs of love, sacrifice and humanity. His book ‘Ek Richa Patal Ko’ was awarded the coveted Nirala Samman in 1997. Some of his poems are considered to be milestone in Hindi Poetry and are included in the textbooks of schools/colleges. Som Thakur has also written some memorable songs for Hindi films. He was recently appointed the Chairperson of UP Hindi Sansthan. This is his second trip to the US by popular demand.

Uday Pratap Singh of Shikohabad, UP, is a maestro of Hindi Gazals who has participated in numerous kavi sammelans in India and abroad for the last forty-five years. He is a scholar of both English and Hindi literature, which helps him enrich his poetic expression. Mr. Singh is actively engaged in the field of promoting Indian languages and bringing about harmony among them. Educationist by profession, he is active in politics. Currently, a sitting Member of the Parliament, Mr. Singh has been elected to both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha three times since 1989.

Accompanying Som Thakur and Uday Pratap Singh is Abhinav Shukla of Bangalore, a new generation satirist who has entertained millions of people with his humorous writings and satiric arrows. Abhinav is a young and extremely talented poet who has achieved in the last few years what others dream of achieving in decades. Two books to his credit and a recipient of numerous awards, he has participated in hundreds of kavi sammelans and mushairas since the tender age. Abhinav is a rising star in India who has made a name for himself as an intelligent and melodious Hasya Kavi. He will be the master of ceremony, and will conduct the stage in all of the programs. This is his third trip to the US. The Hindi lovers are eagerly waiting to host and listen to these two generations of poets.

To mark this historic event of the Silver Jubilee Shrankhla, IHA is publishing a souvenir commemorating the dozen city kavi sammelan tour. The souvenir contains a 20 page up-close biographical sketch of the three poets. Also, a special collection of poetry recitals in a video and an audio CD is being released.

Known all over the world for his signature poem Karvan Guzar Gaya, the Geet Samraat Neeraj, an icon of Hindi poetry, is being honored by the poetry lovers in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. The International Hindi Association (IHA) has invited the legendary Hindi poet Padmashri Dr. Gopal Das ‘Neeraj’ with Sarvesh Asthana, a young satirist from Lucknow, in a Kavi Sammelan (poetry recital) tour this fall. Neeraj will be felicitated for his life long contribution to Hindi poetry in a Samman Shrankhla. The dozen city tour, appropriately named Karvan Geeton Ka (Journey of Songs), consisting of New York, New Jersey, Washington DC, Richmond, Atlanta, Boston, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Detroit in the US; Toronto in Canada; and Manchester in U.K. will run from September 18 to November 2, 2004. Neeraj will also give a talk on ‘the contemporary Hindi poetry’ in a symposium at the Massachusetts Institute Technology in Cambridge, MA followed by a recital on October 10.

An eminent Hindi lyricist, recipient of many prestigious national awards, writer of over 2 dozen books and popular film songs like E Bhai Zara Dekh Ke Chalo (Mera Naam Joker), Shokhiyon Mein Gholaa Jaaye (Prem Pujari), Dil Aaj Shaayar Hai Gam Aaj Naghama Hai (Gambler) and Megha Chhaye (Sharmilee), Neeraj, is a genius of Hindi poetry and a living legend who needs no introduction. He is a master of expressing human emotions in words that touches the very depths of human heart. He is well known for his style of poetry recital and melodious singing. Neeraj has been mesmerizing the audience in thousands in kavi sammelans from decades. He is widely published in all major Hindi literary magazines all over the world. His versatility is evident by the fact that he has written hundreds of popular songs for Hindi films and at the same time some of his poems are included in many textbooks at schools. Neeraj lives in Aligarh. He has been invited to UK several times before, but this is his second trip to the US and Canada.

Accompanying Neeraj is Sarvesh Asthana, a new generation satirist who has entertained millions of people with his humorous writings and satiric arrows. Five books to his credit and a recipient of numerous awards, he has participated in more than 1500 kavi sammelans and mushairas in the last 15 years. He has been a regular feature in many radio and TV programs including BBC, ETV, ZeeTV, AIR, and Door-Darshan. From the podium, he makes the audience laugh and laugh, at the same time delivers a serious message that is remembered for a long time. He will be the master of ceremony, and will conduct the stage in all of the programs. This is his maiden trip to the US, UK and Canada. The Hindi lovers are eagerly waiting to host and listen to these two generations of poets.

To mark this historic event of Samman Shrankhla, IHA is publishing a special edition of its widely acclaimed quarterly magazine ‘Vishwa’ in honor of Neeraj’s life long work, as ‘Neeraj Visheshank’ in the form of a souvenir commemorating the dozen city kavi sammelan tour. The Visheshank contains a 30 page never published in-depth up-close biographical sketch on Neeraj authored by Shashank Prabhakar. Also, a special collection of Neeraj recitals in a video CD, named ‘Karvan Geeton Ka: Jhoom ke Gaa Loon’, is being released in collaboration with Shabdhlok Prakashan, Agra.